Biggest container ship to ever reach U.S. docks in Elizabeth on Thursday

This is why we raised the Bayonne Bridge. And deepened our navigation channels.

On Thursday morning, the largest container ship to ever reach a U.S. East Coast port reached the Elizabeth-Port Authority Marine Terminal.

How big is the CMA CGM Marco Polo?

It’s big enough to carry 16,022, 20-foot equivalent units — or what those in the industry call TEUs. Most people call them cargo containers.

How many is that? Let’s compare:

Prior to 2017 — when the raising of the Bayonne Bridge increased navigational clearance from 151 feet to 215 feet — the route was limited access to cargo vessels with a maximum capacity of 9,800 TEUs.

Rick Cotton, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, said the historic arrival of the CMA CGM Marco Polo highlights the Port Authority’s various investments in critical regional infrastructure and the far-reaching benefits they have on the entire region and its economy.

“The CMA CGM Marco Polo’s arrival at our seaport underscores the Port of New York and New Jersey’s ability to serve the ultra-large cargo container ships that increasingly carry the food, supplies and goods needed to sustain millions of residents, support thousands of jobs and keep businesses open,” he said.

“The Port Authority’s infrastructure improvements such as the raising of the Bayonne Bridge and the deepening of the navigational channel serving our seaport have made possible this historic moment. These infrastructure improvements also have helped generate record cargo volumes and enabled our supply lines to remain extraordinarily robust during the pandemic.”

The Port of New York and New Jersey is the CMA CGM Marco Polo’s first port of call in the U.S.

The ship will unload up to 5,000 TEUs that include clothing, pharmaceuticals, furniture, appliances, holiday decorations, building materials, home fixtures and food due for distribution to businesses throughout the region and beyond.

Ed Aldridge, president of CMA CGM America and APL North America, said the ship is glad to be able to call at ports in North America after a voyage from Southeast Asia through the Suez Canal.

“We appreciate the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s intelligent, timely infrastructure improvements that have made it possible for us to bring in larger ships and proactively serve our customers from this key American gateway,” he said.

“CMA CGM’s agile methodology enables us to flex our operations to support the growing needs of our customers. The deployment of the CMA CGM Marco Polo is a direct reflection of that agility and our commitment to deliver the essentials that keep America moving.”

Read the full article here.